Brake adjusting means



Feb. 21, 1933. F, FRANK 1,898,298

RAKE ADJUSTING MEANS Filed July 28, 1930 IN VENT 0R FREDERICK G. FRANK.

BY I a A ORNEY Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES FREDERICK O. FRANK,OF SOUTH BEND,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'ronmmrx 3m COMPANY, SOUTH'BEND, INDIANA, A.CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BRAKE ADJUSTING MEANS Application filed July 28,1930. Serial No..471,138.

This invention relates to brakes and more particularly to operatingmeans therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a control lever for a brakehaving means for 5 adjusting the lever relative to the operating memberof the brake.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide a control lever for theoperating member of a brake having a return spring and means associatedtherewith for adjusting the tension of the spring to regulate the throwof the lever.

An important feature of the invention is a reinforcin plate or holderhaving a sto and a plura 'ty of spaced openings provi ing means forregulating the throw of the operating lever. I

Broadly, he invention comprehends a reinforcing plate or holderadjustably positioned on the backing plate of a brake and so connectedto the operating lever that'the throw of the lever may be adjusted totake up the slack in the operating table therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will ap ear from thefollowin description taken in connection with the rawing, which forms apart of this specification,

and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away of a backing platehaving positioned thereon a control lever and means for regulating thethrow of the lever embodying the invention. I

Figure 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a brake embo%y1ng a modified form of theinvention:

igure 5 is a sectional View substantially on line 55, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view substantially on line 6-6, Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of an adjusting plate and stop forming aortion of the embodiment of my invention. illustrated in Figures 1 to 3,inclusive.

In general the embodiments illustrating my invention comprise a brakedrum, brake shoes 50 positioned within said drum, and improved means forapplying the shoes to the drum. The means for applying the shoes to thedrum include a shaft on one end of which there are mounted cam lobeswhich operate to move the shoes into brake applying relationship withthe drum and on the opposite end of which there is mounted a leverbymeans of which the shaft and the lobes may be rotated. The lever isadjustably secured to the shaft and means are provided for adjustablypositioning the lever in its normal or brake off position. In theembodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and Figure 7, thismeans comprises a sto adjustably secured to the backing plate an aspring for normally maintaining the lever in contact with the stop. Inthe embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, inelusive, no stop isprovided, but a spring is rovided in'combination with means for ad-]ustably positioning the spring so that the normal position of the lever:may be con trolled. v

Inasmuch as the details of the brake drum, the brake shoes, the camlobes, and the operating shaft are the same in both of the modificationsof -my invention illustrated, these details will only be described oncefor both modifications and like numerals will be used to indicatesimilar parts.

Referring particularly to; Figure 6 of the drawing, there is shown afixed support 10, such asa backing plate. As shown, the backing platehas positioned thereon a fixed anchor 12 to which is pivoted by one enda friction element 14:, the other end of which. has mounted thereon asby a bolt 16, thrust rollers 18. The rollers are spaced from the end ofthe friction element and are arranged on opposite sides thereof, theobject of the arrangement appearing hereinafter. The friction element14, is adapted to be moved into braking relationship with a brake drum15.

- Secured to the backing plate by the anchor 12 and a rivet or othersecurin means 20, are reinforcing plates 22, one 0 which is providedwith a perimetral flange 2A, which lends strength and rigidity thereto.These reinforcing plates constitute a bracket which so ports a sleeve 26in which is pocitioned For rotation an operating shaft 28 having a cam30 provided with corresponding oppositely disposed lobes 32 engaging therespective thrust rollers 18 on the friction element 14, and anadjustable operating lever 34.

Positioned for rotation on the shaft 28 is a disk 36 having arrangedtherein a circular row of Openings 38 and a single opening 40,positioned inward of the row of openings 38. The openings 38 are asstated, arranged in a circle, the center of which is in the axis of theoperating shaft. This disk is also provided with a stop 42 adapted toengage the operating lever when the brake mechanism is in the offposition. Y

As shown, a coil spring 44 has one on hooked around the lever asindicated at 46 and its other end engaging the opening 40. This sprinserves to return the lever against the stop, t ereby taking up slack inan operating cable such as is used in connection with brake structuresof this type.

A stud 48 passes throu h one of the openings'38 in the plate 36 an isthreaded in the hacking plate or reinforcing plates. By removing thestud 48 and rotating the disk 36, the position of the stop 42 andtherefore the normal position of the operating lever 33 may be readilyadjusted to take up slack in the operating cable.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the invention wherein afixed late ,or holder 50 is substituted for the disc 36.

This plate is secured beneath a flange on the bushing 26 and is furthersecured in position by the anchor 12. This plate is provided with aplurality of lugs 52 arranged in pairs in spaced relation and in acircle, the center of which is in the axis of the operating shaft. Asshown, these lugs are bent up from the plate 50 to provide pockets orslots 5 adaptable for the reception of one end of a spring 56, the otherend of which is hooked around the operating lever 34. This spring servesto return the lever to the oif position and such position may bepredetermined by selecting the slot in which to secure the springs.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it isto be under" stood that these are given merely as examples of theunderlying principles of the invention and since these may beincorporated in other specific mechanical structures, I do not intend-tohe limited to those shown, except such limitations are clearly nnphed bythe appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A brake comprising an operating shaft, a lever on the shaft, :1lever-positioning memcoaaial with the shaft, means for adjust- 1,soe,ees

ing the position of the member and the lever and a yielding meansconnecting the memher to the lever.

2. A brake comprising an operating shaft, a lever on the shaft, a memberconcentric to the shaft and movable thereon, means for ad 'usting themember and a spring connected etween the member and the lever.

3. A brake comprising a brake drum, a friction element associated withsaid drum, means comprising a shaft and a lever adjustably secured tosaid shaft for moving said bra e element into brake applyingrelationship with said drum, and means for resiliently maintaining saidlever and said shaft in a predetermined normal position in which saidfriction element is spaced from said drum, said last named meanscomprising a plateadjustably secured in relationship to sald drum, astop associated with said plate and a spring having one end associatedwith said plate and the other end associated with said lever.

4. A brake comprising a brake drum, a friction element associated withsaid drum, means comprising a shaft and a lever adjustably secured tosaid shaft for moving said brake element into brake applyingrelationship with said drum, and means for resiliently maintaining saidlever and said shaft in a predetermined normal position in which saidfriction element. is spaced from said drum, said last named means comrising a spring bearing at one end upon said ever and having the otherend adjustably connected to said drum.

5. A brake comprising a brake drum, a friction element associated withsaid drum, means comprising a shaft and a lever adjustably secured tosaid shaft for moving said brake element into brake applyingrelationship with said drum and means for resiliently maintainin saidlever and said shaft in a redetermine normal position in which saidsiliently maintaining said lever and said shaft in a predeterminednormal position in which said friction element is spaced from said drum,said last named means comprising a plate fastened to said drum andformed with a plurality of pockets, and a spring having one and securedin one of said pockets and having the other end bearing upon said lever.

"8'. A brake comprising a drum; a friction ing element positioned withinsaid drum; a backing plate secured to said drum; an anchor pin to whichone end of said friction element is secured; means for moving saidfriction element into contact with said drum comprisa shaft, acylindrical element passing through the end of said friction elementopposite to said anchor pin, a pair of thrust rollers rotatably mountedon opposite ends of said cylindrical element and on opposite sides ofsaid friction element, a pair of cam lobes secured on one end of saidshaft and adapted to contact with said thrust rollers, and a leversecured to the opposite end of said shaft; and means for ad ustablypositioning said lever and said shaft in a normal brake off positioncomprising a disc formed with a plurality of holes arranged in a circleconcentric with said shaft, a bolt positioned in one of said holes andpassing through an opening in said backing plate, a stop element securedto said disc and against which said lever is adapted to bear, and aspring having one end connected to said disc and having the otherendbearing upon said lever for urging it into contact with said stop.

8. A brake comprising a drum, a friction element associated with saiddrum, means for urging said friction element into contact I with saiddrum including a lever, and means for normally maintaining said lever ina predetermined position relative to said drum and for adjusting saidposition comprising a disc formed with a plurality of holes posltionedin a circle and provided with a stop adapted to contact with said lever.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FREDERICK C. FRANK.

